I wrote the following just a few days ago regarding Mr. Flacco's impending contract status:

According to Spotrac’s comparison of quarterback salaries, the lowest average annual salary paid to a current Super Bowl-winning quarterback is the $10.8 M annual average Green Bay pays Aaron Rodgers…followed by two-time SB winner Ben Roethlisberger who earns an annual average of $12.75 million.

I don’t expect Mr. Flacco to exceed Mr. Rodgers average annual earnings, even if the Ravens win Sunday. But his soon-to-be new contract will come much closer to Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood should he be victorious in Super Bowl XLVII.

Well...

Not only was Mr. Flacco victorious in Baltimore's 34-31 thrilling victory which included a second half blackout which nearly short-circuited the Ravens offense, but he turned in an MVP performance with 287 yards passing, 3 touchdown passes, 0 interceptions, and a 95.1 QBR.

So let's return to QB contracts for Super Bowl winning quarterbacks:

- Drew Brees, MVP of Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, signed a 5-year deal in 2012 with a signing bonus of $37 million and worth an average annual value of $20 million;

- Aaron Rodgers, MVP of Super Bowl XLV in 2011, signed a 6-year deal in 2008 worth an average value of 10.8 million. He will become a restricted free agent in 2015;

- Eli Manning, MVP of Super Bowls XLII in 2008 and XLVI in 2012, signed a 7-year deal in 2009 with a $13 million signing bonus and worth an annual average of $15.3 million;

- Ben Roethlisberger, a 2-time champion with Super Bowls XL and XLIII, signed an 8-year deal in 2008 with a $25.2 million signing bonus and worth an annual average of $12.75 million.

For perspective, consider that:

- Peyton Manning, future Hall of Famer and MVP of Super Bowl XLI, signed a 5-year deal in 2012 with Denver worth an annual average of $19.2 million;

- Tom Brady, 2-time Super Bowl MVP and 3-time Super Bowl champion, signed a 5-year deal in 2010 with a $16 million signing bonus and worth an annual average of $15.7 million.

Though I don't believe Joe Flacco is a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, the earnings bar set by Drew Brees in 2012 will push the ceiling for Mr. Flacco well above my earlier estimates.

How high? That's up to the tenaciousness of Mr. Flacco's agent and the frugality of Ravens executives.

But in light of the market for quarterbacks as outlined above, and due to the timing of recent deals for Mr. Brees and Peyton Manning, I suspect Mr. Flacco will earn an annual average of between $15-18 million.

In light of his new status as Super Bowl MVP and champion, Joe Flacco is no Average Joe henceforth among the pantheon of his QB peers.